title: Bilateral entry and release of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus induces profound apoptosis of human bronchial epithelial cells.
abstract: The newly emerged Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infects human bronchial epithelial Calu-3 cells. Unlike severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV, which exclusively infects and releases through the apical route, this virus can do so through either side of polarized Calu-3 cells. Infection results in profound apoptosis within 24 h irrespective of its production of titers that are lower than those of SARS-CoV. Together, our results provide new insights into the dissemination and pathogenesis of MERS-CoV and may indicate that the virus differs markedly from SARS-CoV.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology and Immunologya and Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease,c University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Xinrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Terence E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Chikao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Clarence J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Ksiazek
authors.forename: Chien-Te K
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016764:Cell Polarity; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D053586:Virus Internalization; D057074:Virus Release / Q000502:physiology